1938 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Sport Saloon Review

The Rolls-Royce 25/30hp model, the new small Rolls-Royce, was first exhibited at Olympia in October 1936, and although borrowing many of its design features and retaining the finest qualities of the exceptionally successful 20/25hp model, it now featured a significantly enlarged engine displacing 4,257cc.

Following this model, the Wraith had a production run from 1938-39, just over a year, manufacturing interrupted by the outbreak of hostilities.

A lineal descendant of the 3.1-litre 20hp small Rolls-Royce, the Wraith was produced alongside the V12 7.3-litre Phantom III, with just 492 Wraiths produced. Introduced to this model is the use of independent front suspension, a scaled down version of that fitted to the Phantom III. De-luxe models had a dropping division and heater, while all came with built-in hydraulic jacks actuated by a hand pump under the front passenger seat. The rarest of all Rolls-Royces and mentioned in Tom C Clarkes book The Rolls-Royce Wraith, The Rolls-Royce 25/30 & Wraith by Bernard L King, the 25/30 Wraith Register, and known to the RREC too, this is indeed a very special Rolls-Royce 25/30hp Wraith.